News & Information
| The 18th Annual Irish Fall Festival Returns to the Wildwoods | ||
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ben Rose 609.846.2657 brose@wildwoodsnj.com The 18th Annual Irish Fall Festival Returns to the Wildwoods Wildwoods, NJ - The East Coast's Largest Irish Fall Festival returns to the Wildwoods with the 18th Annual Irish Fall Festival on Thursday, September 24th through Sunday, September 27th. This four day event sponsored by James J. Reilly, Division 1, Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) is designed to celebrate the Irish culture and heritage through a variety of exciting events that are sure to entertain from start to finish. The festivities tee off on Thursday morning with a Golf Tournament at the Avalon Golf Club on Route 9 in Swainton. The Tournament begins at 7:30 a.m. and is $90.00 per golfer which includes: golf fees, cart, cap, buffet lunch, beer and many prizes. Space is limited and reservations are recommended. If the day on the green leaves you wanting more then don't forget to check out the Live Amateur Boxing being held later that evening at 7:00 p.m. where the Harrowgate Boxing Club of Philadelphia, PA bouts it out with the Holy Family Boxing Club of Belfast, Northern Ireland with 10 Bouts of non-stop action. The cost per ticket is $25 in advance and $30 at the door. For advance ticket sales please call 609.729.1966. Lining Olde New Jersey Avenue in North Wildwood on Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be daily vendors from 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. featuring Irish memorabilia and many food vendors offering Irish and non-Irish treats sure to satisfy any palate. In addition to the vendors, there will be live Irish entertainment continuously held at the municipal parking lot on Olde New Jersey Avenue Friday and Saturday from 12:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Featured performers include: Paddy's Well featuring Paul Moore, The Wolftones Derek Warfield, The Elders, Bogside Rogues, Sean Fleming Band, Secret Service, Dolly McGee, Mary Pat Hastings, Timmy Kelly, Moira McKinney-Maestro, Ballina, Broken Shillelaghs, Bare Knuckle Boxers, Celtic Pride and the Highland Rovers with a special guest appearance by the Fitzpatrick School of Irish dance. And Friday evening only can you check out the comedy of Joe Conklin and the music of Love Seed Mama Jump. Additionally, there will be Irish Food and entertainment available at most pubs and taverns in North Wildwood all weekend long. For more information about the non-stop entertainment throughout the weekend, please visit the Irish Music Tent. On Saturday, the day begins with a 5K Run starting at 8:00 a.m.. Sign-up to join in on the Run will be at the AOH tent between 1st and 2nd Avenues on Olde New Jersey Avenue for your chance to win one of the prizes awarded. The next event on Saturday's agenda starts at 10:00 a.m. with the Brian Riley Pipe Exhibition where you can experience some of the best pipe bands in the East, located at Eighth and Central Avenues. Don't miss out on the opportunity to partake in FREE Irish dance lessons from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Anglesea Volunteer Fire House located at the heart of the festival activities at Second and Olde New Jersey Avenues. Later that evening there will be a traditional CEILI from 7:00 p.m. -11:00 p.m. where The Pearl River Ceili Band will perform. The CEILI requires a fee of $15 and light fare and refreshments will be included. The fun doesn't stop there. Direct from Ireland, 4 Celtic Women will perform a concert, along with the Gibson School of Irish Dance where you can experience a rhythmic journey through Ireland, Scotland, and Wales through the magic of exceptional vocals and the traditions of Celtic music. The concert is being held at Wildwood Catholic High School, located at 15th and Central Avenues at 7:00 p.m.. Tickets to the show are $20 and can be purchased by calling Kathleen Connolly at 609.729.1307. On Sunday, everyone is welcomed to celebrate in the faith and heritage of the Irish at Saint Ann Roman Catholic Church located at Glenwood and Atlantic Avenues for an 11:00 a.m. Mass. Rounding out the weekend's festivities will be a 1:00 p.m. parade, starting at 24th and Surf Avenues and continuing to Spruce and Olde New Jersey Avenues. Niall Burgess, Consul General of Ireland, will serve as the Grand Marshall. And once again, AOH is honored to have Shamus Boyle, National President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, as a special guest. The parade will also feature Miss North Wildwood, Deneen Piotrowski, many fraternal organizations, bag pipe bands, Irish dance groups and more. Due to the large attendance this event attracts, festival transportation will be available to ensure you are able to get around to enjoy all of the wonderful activities planned for this weekend. Trolleys and buses will loop continuously in North Wildwood from Third and New Jersey Avenues, south on New Jersey, then East on 26th Avenue and North on Surf Avenue. A one way fare is only $3. Or you can purchase a bracelet for unlimited weekend rides for $25. There will also be Wildwood and Wildwood Crest Routes available as the trolleys and buses will loop continuously from Third and New Jersey Avenues, East on Schellenger Avenue, South on Ocean Avenue, West on Farragut Road, and south on Atlantic Avenue to Rochester Avenue. A one way fare is $5 or an unlimited weekend rides bracelet can be purchased for $30. For more information on transportation for the weekend please call 609.884.5230. For more information about this event please call 1.800.IRISH.91 or visit www.CMCAOH.com. For more information about The Wildwoods visit www.WildwoodsNJ.com or call 609.729.9000. ### About the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority The Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority (GWTIDA) was formed in 1993 to consolidate the tourism economy of its three founding municipalities: Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood. The Wildwoods have won numerous travel and tourism awards, heralding the resort for its beaches, boardwalk and attractions. In 2009, the Wildwoods were named one of Sherman's Travel's "Top Ten American Boardwalks" and one of Time.com's "50 Authentic American Experiences." In addition, the Wildwoods were also voted "Best Town" and "Best Beaches" in the 2009 WTXF-TV My Fox Philly Hot List, Jersey Shore Edition contest. The Wildwoods were also named "Best Beaches" in the 2008 Top Ten New Jersey Beaches public survey, sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium. Wildwoods beaches were named "Best Beach for Family Vacations," "Best Beach for Tourism" and "Best Beach for Events" in the same survey. The Tourism Authority operates the Wildwoods Convention Center and acts as the island's destination marketing organization overseeing the development, research, planning, marketing, advertising, promotion, public and media relations encompassing the tourism, meeting and convention industry in the Wildwoods. Additionally, the Authority funds, assists with and hosts more than 180 annual special events to enhance the visitor experience and extend the tourism season, including the Thunder On The Sand Race Series, Family Nights On The Boardwalk, Friday Night Fireworks, The New Jersey State Barbeque Championships and Anglesea Blues Festival, Classic Car Shows, the International Kite Festival, Irish and Italian Festivals and the National Marbles Tournament, among others. For more information on the Wildwoods, contact the GWTIDA at 1-800-WW-By-Sea (800-992-9732) or visit its web site, www.WildwoodsNJ.com | ||
